ABSTRACT
More and more big changes were taking place in my village. Each time we received a letter from home we heard good news. My wife's letter said:
It seems that all the market-control officials have died quietly. Nobody comes to stop me from selling things in the street. I never hear of anyone going into a- house to search, or threatening by saying, "You'll be arrested if you are making an underground factory!" There are no more political or class-struggle meetings. All the old important officials at the Team Committee have been replaced by a, band of young men. It will give you a big laugh, father and son, to hear that Mr. Zhao our former team head is now an ordinary peasant. We villagers elected the new committee at a team meeting, and the members have been approved by the higher-level authorities. They seem very fair in solving our village problems.
The village public property has been reasonably divided among the commune members. It was the same with the land. Each household received an equal share of dry land and watery land. 1 Those who had the interest and skill put in bids for the pear orchard, the apple orchard, the rice mill, and so on. They promise to give a certain amount to the government each year, and the remainder is theirs to keep. Mr. Ma's son used to be considered the poorest fellow in our village. Do you recall how he used to ask people to give him one cigarette from house to house? Now, he has become very rich and married a beautiful wife. All because he was contracted to take charge of our village pond. Nowadays he is paying his former "debts" by offering cigarettes to all he meets. I don't smoke, but the other day at the edge of our village he ran after me and forced me to accept some cigarettes. He said once long ago you gave him a cigarette. When you come home for a visit he will certainly bring us a lot of fish.
Peoplego to work according to their own convenience. Our loudspeaker never hurries people, but everybody goes around more quickly. Most of the households have fulfilled the country's public-grain requirements ahead of schedule and, in addition, have harvested more than enough to eat. Rice—big, pure white, as white as snow—we now have not occasionally or when a festival comes but at each meal, every day of the month.
225 My hens lay plenty of eggs each week, and the pigs are growing surprisingly big and fat. The old man is also all right. Luzhong is getting anxious to start his schooling. In addition, we received 200 yuan from your former organization in Kunming. This money is meant to help us with our difficult problems at home. I have ordered some new tiles. If possible we will complete our new house by the end of the year. Everything seems okay. We always hope and pray that God will protect you, father and son. May you teach and study well.
